Trap.



R. A. LEWIS.

TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1916.

1,213,887. Patented Jan. 23,1917.

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RALPH A. LEWIS, F GRANGEVILLE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR. 0F ONE-THIRD TO W'ILLIAMSTRAIT AND ONE-THIRD T0 WALLACE N. SCALES, OF GRANGEVILLE, IDAHD.

TRAP.

Application filed May 4, 1916. Serial No. 95,448.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RALPH A. LEWIS, a citizenof the United States, residing at Grangeville, in the county of Idahoand State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTraps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in traps and has relationmore particularly to a device of this general character which isself-set and ever-set, and it is ar object of theinvention to provide atrap of this general character with novel and improved means whereby arocking plate is employed and provided with means for normally holdingthe door of the entrance open ing of the trap in open position togetherwith a downwardly swinging platform provided with means forautomatically adjusting the door of the entrance opening into openposition upon downward movement of the platform.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved trapwhereby certain important ad vantages are attained and the device isrendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully sex forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewtaken through a trap constructed in accordance with an embodiment of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the trap as herein embodiedwith the upstanding side walls in section; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary viewin bottom plan of the depressible platform showing the connection of theelongated member or rod therewith; and Fig. A is a fragmentaryhorizontal sectional view taken through the rear portion of theupstanding walls and the connecting plate.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a housing ofpredetermined 5 dimensions and configuration having one end providedwith an exit opening 2 adapted to be closed by the door 3, while theopposite end thereof is provided with the window opening 1 provided withthe closure member 5 preferably of reticulated fabric.

T he top 6 of the housing 1 extends beyond one end of said housing andadjacent its opposite end the top 6 is provided with the opening 7adapted to be normally closed by the downwardly swinging platform 8herein disclosed as loosely engaged atone end with the rod 9 disposedtransversely of the housing 1 and supported by the upstanding parallelwalls 10 carried by the top 6 of the housing 1, said walls 10 beingarranged ad jacent the longitudinal margins of the top 6 and inparallelism therewith.

Each of the walls 10 are substantially diamond-shape in elevation withthe endsthereof at the entrance being disposed on ar upward and outwardincline and the opposed faces of the walls at the entrance end thereofare provided with the cleats 11 o the like upon which the verticallyswinging door 12 rests when in closed position.

As herein embodied, the upper end portion of the door 12 is pivotallyengaged with the rod 14: disposed between and supported by the sidewalls 10. When in closed position, the free or lower edge of the door 12rests upon the elongated member or rod 15 disposed longitudinally of thetop 6 in close proximity to one of the side walls 10 and has its inneror opposite end portion operatively engaged with the platform 8, wherebyit will be perceived that upon depression of the platform 8, the rod 15will move the door 12 upwardly into open position and in which positionthe door 12 is normally held in a manner which will hereinafter be morefully set forth. I

As herein disclosed, a side margin of the platform 8 is returned toafford a barrel in which the adjacent end portion of the elongatedmember or rod 15 is extended, and said rod or elongated member 15 isprovided with the transverse extension 16 underlying the door 8 andwhich is also positioned within a barrel 17 afforded by a returnedextension of the platform 8. It is to be noted that the elongated memberor rod 15 is ofiset upwardly intermediate its length, as at 18, forpurposes which are believed to be clearly apparent. v

Disposed transversely of the top 6 and Specification of Letters Patent.Patented J a 23 1917 I supported by the walls is the rod 19 positioned apredetermined distance above the top 6 and with which is pivotallyengaged intermediate its length the trigger plate 20, the forwardportion of which adjacent one of its longitudinal sides is provided withthe upstanding loop 21 adapted to underlie the door 12 when in raisedposition to maintain the same elevated. It is also to be noted that thewei 'ht of the loop 21 is such as to normally hold the forward portionof the trigger plate 20 depressed. As the victim enters between thewalls 10 he passes by the trigger plate 20 and the weight of the victimwhen he reaches the inner end portion thereof will cause the rearportion of the plate to drop, whereupon the loop 21 is withdrawn fromoperative engagement with the door 12 and said door will drop by gravityinto closed position. This movement of the trigger plate 20 causes thevictim to pass upon the platform 8 which will depress under the weightof the victim and result in the victim dropping within the housing 1.

It is preferred that the upper and rear edges of the walls 10 havesecured thereto the inclosing reticulated fabric 22 and to providebetween the inner ends of the walls 10 the deflecting plate 23 bridgingthe space between said walls and having its intermediate portionoutwardly bowed or arched in cross section, whereby the victim isprevented from getting a hold on the reticulated fabric and it isassured that the victim will fall within the housing 1. It is to benoted that the plate 23 is disposed on an upward and inward incline andsubstantially entirely overlies the opening 7 and the coacting platform8.

It will be perceived that the elongated member or rod 15 serves tonormally main tain the platform 8 in a raised or closed position andthat the upward movement'of said platform is limited by the contact ofsaid elongated member or rod with the top 6. I also find it of advantageto secure to the upper surface of the top 6 the transversely disposedstrip 24 interposed between the walls 10 and positioned in closeproximity to the outer ends thereof. This strip or member 2i serves toprevent a captive from elevating the door 12 in order to effect anescape.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a trapconstructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simpleand comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adaptedfor use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may beassembled and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptibleof some change and modification without material departure from theprinciples and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formationof the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention inpractice.

I claim:

A trap including an inclosed housing having one end open and providedwith an opening in its base, a vertically swinging door coacting withthe open end of the lions-- ing, automatic means for maintaining theswinging door in an elevated position, a depressible platform normallyclosing the opening in the base, an elongated rod having one end portionunderlying the platform, said platform having a. marginal portionreturned to afford a barrel to receive said end portion of the elongatedmember, a portion of the elongated member immediately adjacent theplatform being offset upwardly, the outer end portion of the elongatedmember extending beneath the swinging door and serving to elevate thesame upon de pression of the platform.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. RALPH A. LElVIS.

W'itnesses Lnsmn G. SMITH, ALVIN F. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingth C m i sioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

